art collector book recommendations

Cultured magazine asked 10 art collectors to recommend books that changed how they think about art. The responses range from John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" (Matthew Harris) and Sarah Thornton's "Seven Days in the Art World" (Paola Creixell) to Peter Brook's "The Empty Space" (Brandon John Harrington) and Calvin Tomkins's "Off the Wall" (Francis J. Greenburger). Other collectors cite exhibition catalogs, biographies, and personal collection books as transformative reads.

art books surrealism 2710009

Artnet News published a list of must-read books on Surrealism, marking the movement's 100th anniversary since André Breton's 1924 Surrealist Manifesto. The article highlights key texts including Breton's own "Manifestoes of Surrealism" and his novel "Nadja," Patrick Lepetit's "The Esoteric Secrets of Surrealism" exploring occult influences, and Whitney Chadwick's "Farewell to the Muse" focusing on women Surrealists who were often marginalized as muses rather than artists.

Nick Goss: Interview of the Month, March 2026 – Paul Carey-Kent

Anglo-Dutch painter Nick Goss has opened a new exhibition at Josh Lilley Gallery, featuring eleven paintings inspired by Eel Pie Island, a private marshy area on the Thames in Twickenham with a bohemian past—including 1960s rock concerts by The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Pink Floyd, a hippie commune, and a 1972 fire. In an interview with Paul Carey-Kent, Goss discusses how he blends fact and fiction, combining sources from hotel corridors, Pompeii, and the Sergeant Pepper album cover to create ambiguous, layered works that evoke half-remembered histories.

The Many Forms of Marcel Duchamp

The New Yorker's Hilton Als reviews "Marcel Duchamp," a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, running through August 22, 2026. Curated by Matthew Affron, Michelle Kuo, and Ann Temkin, it is the first North American retrospective of Duchamp's work since 1973, organized in collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The exhibition spans MoMA's entire sixth floor, showcasing Duchamp's shape-shifting practice—from iconic works like "Nude Descending a Staircase (No. 2)" (1912) and "Bicycle Wheel" (1951) to his readymades and conceptual pieces—emphasizing his rejection of commodification and embrace of intellectual freedom, play, and queer sensibilities.

February Book Bag: from Tracey Emin’s conversations about painting to a catalogue of Lucian Freud’s drawings

The article presents a selection of recently published art books, highlighting new releases on artists Tracey Emin, Beatriz González, and Lucian Freud, as well as a second volume on Arab Modernist artists. It details the content of each book, including personal reflections, career overviews, and connections to upcoming exhibitions.

The Aldrich Names Artists for First-Ever Decennial

The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art in Connecticut has announced the 40 participating artists for its first-ever Aldrich Decennial, a survey exhibition titled "I am what is around me." Opening June 7 and running through January 10, 2027, the show focuses on artists living and working in Connecticut who have never had a solo museum exhibition in the state. Notable participants include painter Dominic Chambers, multimedia artist Arghavan Khosravi, and novelist-poet Renee Gladman. The exhibition draws its title from a 1917 poem by Wallace Stevens, a longtime Connecticut resident.

Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space Art and Science Symposium

A symposium titled "Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space Art and Science Symposium" will take place at the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) headquarters in Burlington House, London, celebrating the major exhibition "Cosmos: The Art of Observing Space" at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) in Bristol (24 January–19 April 2026). Curated by visual artist Ione Parkin RWA, the exhibition features over 30 contemporary artists alongside loan items from public collections, all inspired by astronomy, cosmology, astrophysics, and space exploration. The symposium includes talks by astronomers, archivists, and exhibiting artists, with a catalogue published by Sansom & Company featuring contributions from Professor Chris Lintott, Professor Amaury Triaud, Dr Sian Prosser, and Ione Parkin RWA.

The story of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s brief but dazzling life, as told by an art-world insider

Doug Woodham, former president of Christie's Americas and current managing partner of Art Fiduciary Advisors, has authored a new biography titled "Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon." The book is divided into two halves: the first offers a straightforward biography of Basquiat's life from his gifted childhood in Brooklyn to his rise as a star artist, his friendship with Andy Warhol, and his tragic death from a heroin overdose at age 27. The second half analyzes how Basquiat achieved such early success, examining the influence of his father Gerard, the legal battle with dealer Vrej Baghoomian over the artist's estate, and the roles of collectors like Peter Brant and José Mugrabi. Notably, the Basquiat estate refused permission to include images of his artwork because the book openly addresses sensitive issues about his character and life.

Turner winner Jasleen Kaur announces first permanent public work

Turner Prize winner Jasleen Kaur has announced her first permanent public artwork, titled *Was.Is.Will.Be*, to be unveiled on 28 November at Southmere Lake in Cygnet Square, Thamesmead, southeast London. The sculpture is funded by housing association Peabody and was selected with input from a creative studio that includes five local residents, among them filmmaker Comfort Adeneye and painter Gonzalo Fuentes. Other project partners include Studio Danmole, Company, Place, and youth culture specialist Joseph Gray. The work incorporates fragments of local conversation and features the phrase 'horses are here' written in the sky.

From royal visitors to extortionate eBay sales: new book offers rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of Vermeer blockbuster

The Rijksmuseum's 2023 Vermeer exhibition, widely considered the most successful show of the century, drew 650,000 visitors and assembled 28 of the artist's 37 known paintings. A new book, *Closer to Vermeer: New Research on the Painter and his Art*, reveals behind-the-scenes details: the initial plan for a broader thematic show was abandoned in favor of a focused Vermeer-only presentation; nine paintings could not be borrowed, including *The Concert* (stolen in 1990) and *The Astronomer* (on loan to Louvre Abu Dhabi); the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum refused to lend *Girl with a Wine Glass*, even rejecting an offer of buses for schoolchildren. The book also discloses that the Dutch king and queen visited multiple times during regular hours, that a quarter of visitors felt context was missing, and that over 3,500 complaints were filed about photography. The most expensive resold ticket on eBay reached $2,724.

Five new art books to look out for this autumn, including publications on US monuments and Vermeer close-ups

Five new art books are set for release this autumn, covering topics from US monuments and Vermeer's techniques to post-war British culture and contemporary Pakistani-American art. Titles include 'Closer to Vermeer' (Thames & Hudson), 'Monumental: How a New Generation of Artists Is Shaping the Memorial Landscape' (MIT Press), 'British Blonde' (Paul Mellon Centre), 'Art Is: A Journey into the Light' (Yale), and 'Shahzia Sikander' (Lund Humphries), each offering fresh scholarship or monographic depth.

The Brooklyn Museum to Present Monet and Venice, the First Major Exhibition in over a Century Dedicated to Claude Monet’s Venetian Cityscapes

The Brooklyn Museum will present "Monet and Venice" from October 11, 2025, to February 1, 2026, the first major exhibition in over a century dedicated to Claude Monet's Venetian cityscapes. The show reunites nineteen of Monet's Venetian paintings alongside more than one hundred artworks, books, and ephemera, placing them in context with works by Canaletto, John Singer Sargent, J. M. W. Turner, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It is cocurated by Lisa Small of the Brooklyn Museum and Melissa Buron of the Victoria & Albert Museum, and sponsored by Bank of America.

A biography of Turner and Constable that goes beyond the stereotypes

Nicola Moorby, curator of British art 1790-1850 at Tate, has published a new book titled *Turner & Constable: Art, Life, Landscape*, which examines the lives and careers of J.M.W. Turner and John Constable side by side for the first time in such depth. Published in the 250th anniversary year of Turner's birth and ahead of Constable's in 2026, the study uses a thematic approach within a chronological framework to compare their approaches to landscape painting, including their treatment of rivers like the Thames and the Stour, their differing paths to success, and famous flashpoints at Royal Academy exhibitions.

Tate Modern, the ‘cathedral to contemporary art’, celebrates 25 years

Tate Modern in London celebrates its 25th anniversary this month, marking the transformation of a derelict Bankside power station into a landmark contemporary art museum. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the museum opened on 11 May 2000 and quickly reshaped London's art landscape, catalyzing the launch of the Frieze London art fair in 2003 and attracting international commercial galleries. Artist Michael Craig-Martin, a former trustee, recalls how the project was driven by then-director Nicholas Serota's ambitious vision to elevate modern art from its status as 'art's poor cousin.' The museum pioneered free-admission thematic collection displays and a global curatorial approach, though its inaugural exhibition 'Century City' was widely criticized as overambitious.

Humanitas Bong Joon Ho in conversation, new student art, and beach photos

Oscar-winning filmmaker Bong Joon Ho will visit Yale University on May 5-6 for a public conversation with photographer Gregory Crewdson about filmmaking, followed by a Schwarzman Session for students and the community. The visit coincides with a film retrospective of Bong's work organized by Marc Francis, including screenings of "Parasite," "The Host," and "Mickey 17." Separately, the Schwarzman Center has launched a virtual Storyboard exhibition titled "over time," featuring artworks by 10 Yale students responding to a prompt about the future, curated by Airi Gavan. The article also notes an upcoming summer exhibition of photographs by Yale School of Art professor emeritus Tod Papageorge.

Space: the ultimate wardrobe challenge – in pictures

Thames and Hudson has released Space Journal: The Art and Science of Cosmic Exploration, a new visual compendium curated by BBC presenter Dallas Campbell. The book chronicles humanity’s aesthetic and technical obsession with the cosmos, featuring a diverse array of archival imagery ranging from 17th-century illustrations and 1930s rocket experiments to high-fidelity spacesuit replicas and mid-century astronomical art.

Sex, beauty and the body: how Helen Chadwick shaped British contemporary art

A new critical biography, "Helen Chadwick: Life Pleasures," has been published, marking the first comprehensive study of the British artist Helen Chadwick (1953-96). Edited by Laura Smith, director of collections and exhibitions at the Hepworth Wakefield, the book includes contributions from historian Marina Warner, curator Katrin Bucher Trantow, and artist Maria Christoforidou. A touring exhibition of Chadwick's work opens at the Hepworth Wakefield on 17 May and runs until 27 October. The article highlights Chadwick's provocative, punky, and perverse body-focused works, such as "Untitled (Eat Art)" (1973), where she cast her face in jelly for viewers to consume, and "Piss Flowers" (1991-92), made from snow she urinated on. It also recounts the infamous 1986 incident at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, where her sculpture "Carcass"—a glass tower of rotting vegetables—leaked and collapsed.

The miart 2026 fair is over and no longer has a director. Who will direct the 2027 edition? The name game

La fiera miart 2026 è finita e non ha più un direttore. Chi dirigerà l’edizione 2027? Il totonomi

The 2026 edition of the Milanese art fair miart has concluded, but its director Nicola Ricciardi is not expected to continue. The fair's owner, Fiera Milano, issued a closing statement with results and future dates, but failed to announce a successor, leaving the leadership for the 2027 edition in question.

‘I’m not trying to make him handsome’: Polly Samson on photographing husband David Gilmour – in pictures

Polly Samson, acclaimed author and wife of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, presents her first solo photography exhibition at Leica Gallery London, featuring intimate images taken over two decades of Gilmour on tour and in the studio. The show, titled 'Polly Samson – Between This Breath and Then,' runs until 7 May 2026 and coincides with the release of her book 'David Gilmour: Luck and Strange – Studio/Live,' published by Thames & Hudson. Samson's photographs capture candid moments of Gilmour, their family, and the creative process behind albums including 'Luck and Strange.'

Rain, insomnia and finding a model: how Morocco challenged and changed Matisse

Henri Matisse made two pivotal trips to Tangier, Morocco, in 1912-1913, documented in Jeff Koehler's new book *Matisse in Morocco: A Journey of Light and Colour*. At a low point in his career—having lost patrons and critical support after his Fauve period—Matisse sought new inspiration, producing over 20 paintings despite challenges like rain, insomnia, and difficulty finding models. Commissions from Russian collectors Sergei Shchukin and Ivan Morozov helped fund the trips, and Matisse worked at the Villa Brooks estate, creating works such as *Moroccan Landscape (Acanthus)* (1912) and *The Palm* (1912). The article also highlights Matisse's discovery of fingerprints on *View of the Bay of Tangier* (1912-13) and his reliance on a Moroccan model named Zorah.

Colourful debut for Thames artist

Jack Moskowitz, a Thames local, opened his first solo exhibition titled "Jack's Exhibition" at the Vessel Art Gallery on April 18. The show features 32 artworks including portraits, landscapes, and cars, rendered in pastels, watercolour, ink, and dye, with a strong emphasis on colour. Jack, who has been making art since age five, received tutoring from several local artists including Sue Clark and Laurie Spera, and many pieces sold quickly to the public.

Reading artists exhibit work in new partnership with cafe

The Reading Guild of Artists (RGA) has partnered with Honesty Café in Thames Quarter, Reading, to host monthly art exhibitions by its members. The first display features vibrant prints by artist Mark Burden, launched at an event on April 16. This initiative follows other RGA projects at Reading Museum and Royal Berks Hospital, expanding the guild's community outreach.

Chatham-Kent - Thames Art Gallery Celebrates Local High School Artists and Ukrainian artist Lana Matskiv

The Thames Art Gallery in Chatham-Kent is launching two concurrent exhibitions on April 17, 2026, featuring a blend of professional and student work. Ukrainian artist Lana Matskiv presents "Hyphenated," a solo exhibition of over forty pieces including paintings and installations that explore the intersection of cultural histories and personal narratives. Alongside this, the gallery hosts "Here I Am," a juried showcase of artwork by local high school students from grades 9 through 12, culminating in a public reception and awards ceremony.

Winter Welcome brings creativity and community spirit to Grays

On December 18, Grays Shopping Centre hosted Winter Welcome, a community celebration produced by Thurrock-based arts organization Together Productions in collaboration with Welcome to the UK. The event featured visual arts activities, a 'Creating Home' art exhibition by the Together Create Visual Arts Collective with artists Marsha Ashley and Salina Jane, participatory singing led by Ashley Beauchamp and Thames Opera Company, and food prepared by Welcome to the UK community members. Thurrock's Deputy Mayor Cllr Steve Liddiard attended, and shoppers enjoyed a pop-up performance.

Amid a cost of living crisis for London’s artists, a charity has secured dozens of affordable studio spaces

Bow Arts, a UK charity founded in 1994, has acquired two buildings in east London to create permanently affordable studio spaces for artists. The purchases include a site in the Hackney Yards development, developed in partnership with housing association Notting Hill Genesis and supported by Arts Council England and the London Legacy Development Corporation, which will provide 38 studios by 2026, and the Brutalist Lakeside Centre in Thamesmead, already housing over 40 artist studios. This follows Bow Arts’ first owned building, Three Waters, acquired in 2022 on a 999-year lease with 70 studios. The charity now owns three of the 28 buildings it manages across London, with an annual turnover of £5.1 million, most of which is reinvested into the creative community.

Local artists wanted for CK Queer Portraits art exhibit

Thames Art Gallery in Chatham-Kent, Ontario, is organizing an exhibition titled "Queer Portraits" that celebrates the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The gallery is now accepting submissions from artists, with entries required to show a meaningful connection to Chatham-Kent, be created from the perspective of or in allyship with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and portray a specific person or their defining characteristics. A jury will review submissions, which are due by 4 p.m. on May 29, with up to two pieces per artist accepted across various media.